Vertical rolling mill



J1me 1950 J. w. SHEPERDSON EIAL 2,513,058

VERTICAL ROLLING MILL Filed April 9, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 INVENTORS JOHN W SHEPERDSON JodEPH M. O'MALLEY ATTORNEY June 27, 1950 ,1. w. SHEPERDSON ETAL 2,513,058

VERTICAL ROLLING MILL Filed April 9, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H z INVENTORS JOHN w. SHEPERDSON JOSEPH M. Q'MALLE am/QM AT TORNEY J1me 1950 J. w. SHEPERDSON EI'AL 2,513,058

VERTICAL ROLLING MILL Filed April 9, .1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 INVENTOR-S J OHN w SHEPERDSON JOSEPH M. O'MALLEY ATTORNEY Patented June 27, 1950 he rd-$0. 1 and o h Maney;

Worcester, Mass assignpr'sf'to M'Qrgan'C structibn compan ration of Massachusetts enn wfi n nt l 1945i r t a r im 7 ,?-2- 7 Qlaims. (01; 80-54).

This invent on elates p e t cal r l n -mills 'qel l o en imnrq esiwn tm r ti'pii ai sa rari ent o apparat s for drivin .1 tivelmla elverti a millsl isfl enh m o'sed he e e l e 2 i e he rolls of vertical rnills by means of gearing located in a t n ath. theu p ls vtwi F il is 9Q Qi ha ef ai medi ldvant e 19 the i 9 srnall inills it isfeasible to assemble the driving m phemsminm a cpmnlete be pre re w i e h l mii t the t. fi ev rswith We? mi l h ud iv n s .9 new. a em: i v esr m led un tb msans rd har ly a l prr s- I 'l ee i es n l ianfiefter m y weiehv p r h' r wam. aile le for serv ng ewh n uv seld m xc ed, 1.00990 pounds. It hei r 1 m P cessa y 29 qqmpl e he fie r driving mechanisms in the strnctions this is very factory manner; Enrtherx nore, ,withpertain prior iv n e h he. Ma 2 4 sea h v n been rope a. dt lwit etanq the lead p li d t eret and 1 $9 11 c se i e bee if c ilts o. nsuresaq mtewa enment bee ine dea e meshin 1 ea Ihsacqp d nsly one Q ie t o thei eniiqp to nroyi e .amdr y i im' qht i m fe ver ee m s .be. rea ilitinstel efl in e i ben a h he r9 15 t is u u ithe Q JFQF Pit invention to P videa driving mechanism for vertical mills, the

l fiswuin u d' wh r es th b ne t? r911 eedp di ed r a l separable c. 1- nqnenfifi wh h te he hee e l i m y a crane of a ca pa'city'corhmonly installed for ttin et -mil I t' is,a fnrther object of the invention to provide a newand eficient arrangement'o'fg'earing for driving a vertical rolling mill, the';c on strnction being suchas-to avoid diiificulties caused-by steepes "iQr-tesrms ihcorr'ect meshing of gears, or deflection of shafts. Y Withthese and other objects in view, as will he app arentto {moss ski lled-inthe art, the inveptionresidesin the combination of parts set forth in the specific ation andhovered by the da riese a ehd p to.

R eerring tothedrawings illustrating one emhodin ent offthe invention and in which like eferen e n mi s i q e e t -Eigplis ap elevation of a vertical rolling mill 24 and its driving mechanism, the latter being shown in secfipniw v H 1;

Fig.2 is anelevation of the mill driv ing m echa nisni; shb i gs 'p'drtmn thereof teingiiower d intopos'ition'; j

Fig. 3 is an elevation similar toFig; z b ut viewed from'theright haiidfside; i

Fig. '4 isfa se tion taken on the line 4 4 o f F V and on, Y 'Fig. 5 is; a section taken on the line 5+1? of H T v r s The embodiment illustrated; comg ises a suit;- able r011 housing 1 ['0 we; '1)- which is 'finonnted o ii'a snpportinigfiase I I." This base ektends across a pit '61" opening 12' in the 'filjl' noojrf [I f; thelend portions of the'base resting onfou'ndatiqn rnen bersor rails "l5 at 'dpposi'tesidesof 1:11" t; Two vertical 6 5 y ri a, able hearings in the h iii}; 1!]; an'd thes'e ifo'lls are driven by vertialsbindles' l8 chine the Iow rends ofthej'rol ls'to a driv f m is" locate within pit 2 s a directly b neath .therons; This driving-mechanism Iii-comprises a pair of suitable cann ng-members '281 The'ige'ar 'Zlfis drivenhy'bef'vel gear 30-1ocated therebehe'ath a'n'd' aligried'threwith. I This' hi el gear is provided with a vertical s'haftiS'l" wlijjh is supported 'n'ear upper end in an-aritif flictioi'i bearing 32 and neai' itslo'wer'end'ip an- 'a'ntlifricr tion bearing 333 The bevel gar 3 0 -is'd;-iveii'by a bevel pinion 35 'loc'atedtherebeneath ndbrfofvided with a horizontal shaft 361- This shaft is supported near it's'inner end in ari'a'fitifriction bearing 3Tand fiearits outer end in an antifric tion bearing 38'. The bevel gear'30 and'its'tl'riving pinion'qt; together with'theirs'hafts and'heaijings, are mounted in a hollow casing "orhous'iri 49 which provide's'a supbortTor'the niill pinion housing 21,: the latterbeing separable f rorn the housing 40.- fI'he' beve-l gear honsing' {0 1s constructed of threese'lgia 'aloh-i parts which aresnito f the bevel gear drive unit.

housing member 43 is provided with an opening 45 above the outer bearing 38 of the bevel pinion shaft to permit inspection of the bevel gearing at the point of meshing engagement, this open ing being closed by a removable plate 46. Preferably, the lower bearing 33 for thebevel gear shaft 3| and the inner bearing 31 for the bevel pinion shaft 36 are mounted in a bracket 41 which is supported within the lower housing member 4|.

4 v capacity of cranes ordinarily provided to serv such mills. Accordingly the assembled mill pinion unit :can be picked up by a crane sling and lowered into the pit l2, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, until it rests in its proper place on the top of the bevel gear housing 40 and is securely bolted thereto. In the course of this lowering, the shaft extension 49 will enter the socket 5| to form a telescopic driving connection with the spintile 50.

In spite of the greatest of care in the manufacture and assembling of the parts, it will be found impossible to maintain perfectalignment between the shafts 23 and 3|. However, this will cause notrouble in the operation, since the spindle 56 will readily accommodate itself to such The bevel gear shaft 3| is connected to the ear shaft 23 thereabove to drive the same, and this connection is telescopic so that it may be completed by simply lowering the assembled pinion housing 21. with the pinions therein, into position on the top of the bevel gear housing 4%.

For this purpose the pinion shaft 23 is provided with a portion 4,9 which extends downwardly below the lower bearing 25, this extended portion being formed with a multiple spline or other non-circular cross section capable of transmit tin the necessary torque. The pinion shaft '23 could be arranged to engage the bevel gear shaft '3| directly, but this would not be satisfactory spline or other non-circular cross section, (see Fig. 4).

The lower end of the spindle is flat tened on opposite sides to provide a tongue 53 which fits within a similarly shaped opening 54 in the lower portion of the shaft. Thus the spindle forms a driving connection between the lower portion of the shaft 3|. and the lower end of the shaft 23, this connection being such that extremely accurate alignment of the shafts is unnecessary for satisfactory operation. The weight of the spindle is carried by asfiange 55 which extends outwardly from its upper end and rests on the upper end of the shaft 3 I.

It will now be apparent thatbefore the roll housing H] and its base H are installed, the lower member 4! of the bevel gear housing 40 will be placed on its foundation within the pit l2. Thereupon the bracket 41, the shaft 35, the bevel pinion 35, and the bearings 31 and 38 can be put into place. Next will follow the bearing 33 and the shaft 3|, with the attached bevel gear 38. Thereupon the two upper members 42 and A3 of the housing can be installed, and the upper bearing 32 inserted. The spindle 5|! can then be lowered into place to complete the assembling The mill pinion unit,- including the pinion housing 2! with the two pinions 2fi2| and their shafts and bears, may be completely assembled in the shop or on the rnill floor. This unit, when constructed for a 28 inch mill, will weigh approxi mately 52,000 pounds, which is well Within the misalignment as does occur, and torque will be transmitted smoothly and positively from the shaft 3| through the spindle to the shaft 23. It will be noted that each of the four gears is straddle-mounted, there being a separate pair of bearings for each gear, with the gear positioned between the bearings. This provides a very rugged construction which supports the gears in a rigid manner and ensures proper meshing engagement thereof.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. A driving. mechanism for the two rolls of .a vertical rolling mill comprising a bevel gear housing, a bevel gear mounted within the housing with its axis vertical, a bevel pinion mounted within the housingand meshing with the bevel gear to drive the same, a pinion housing separable from the bevel gear housing and supported on the top thereof, a pair of intermeshing vertical mill pinions mounted in the pinion housing and arranged to be connected at their upper ends to the respective mill rolls, one of the mill pinions bein located directly above the bevel gear, and means providing a vertically slidable telescopic driving connection between, the bevel gear and the mill pinion thereabove.

2. A driving mechanism for the two rolls of a vertical rolling mill comprising a bevel gear housing, a bevel gear mounted within the housing with its axis vertical, bearings for the gear both above and below the same, a bevel pinion mounted within the housing and meshing with the bevel gear to drive the same, a pinion housing separable from the bevel gear housing and supported on the top thereof, a pair of intermeshing vertical mill cpinions mounted in the pinion housing and arranged to be connected at their upper ends to the respective mill rolls, one of the mill pinions being located directly above the bevel gear, bearings for each mill pinion both above and below the same, and means providing a vertically slidable telescopic driving connection between the bevel gear and the mill pinion thereabove.

3. A driving mechanism for the two rolls of a vertical rolling mill comprising a bevel gear housing, a bevel gear mounted within the housing with its axis vertical, bearings for the gear both above and below the same, a bevel pinion mounted within the housing and meshing with the bevel gear to drive the same, means rotatable with the bevel gear and providing an upwardly open socket of non-circular cross section, a pinion housin separable from the bevel gear housing and supported on the top thereof, a pair of intermeshing vertical mill pinions mounted in the pinion housing and arranged to be connected at their upper ends to the respective mill rolls, bearings for each mill pinion both above and below the same, one of the mill pinions being located directly above the bevel gear, and a device of non-circular cross section extending downwardly from the said one mill pinion into telescopic engagement with the socket.

4. A driving mechanism for the two rolls of a vertical rolling mill comprising a bevel gear housing, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in upper and lower bearings in the housing, a bevel gear on the shaft between the bearings, a bevel pinion mounted within the housing and meshing with the bevel gear to drive the same, a pinion housing sparable from the bevel gear housing and supported on the top thereof, a pair of vertical shafts rotatably mounted in upper and lower bearings in the pinion housing and arranged to be connected at their upper ends to the respective mill rolls, one of the shafts of the said pair being located directly above the bevel gear shaft, intermeshing mill pinions mounted on the said pair of shafts between the bearings, and means providing a vertically slidable telescopic driving connection between the bevel gear shaft and the pinion shaft thereabove.

5. A driving mechanism for the two roll of a vertical rolling mill comprising a bevel gear housing, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in upper and lower bearings in the housing, a bevel gear on the shaft between the bearings, a bevel pinion mounted within the housing and meshing with the bevel gear to drive the same, a pinion housing separable from the bevel gear housing and supported on the top thereof, a pair of vertical shaft rotatably mounted in upper and lower bearings in the pinion housing and arranged to be connected at their upper ends to the respective mill rolls, one of the shafts of the said pair being located directly above the bevel gear shaft and having a downwardly projecting lower end portion of non-circular cross section, intermeshing mill pinions mounted on the said pair of shafts between the bearings, the upper end of the bevel gear shaft being hollow to receive the said downwardly projecting portion, and means rotatable with the bevel gear shaft providing an upwardly open socket of non-circular cross section in telescopic engagement with the said portion to drive the same.

6. A driving mechanism for the two rolls of a vertical rolling mill comprising a bevel gear housing, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in upper and lower bearings in the housing, a bevel gear on the shaft between the bearings, a bevel pinion mounted. within the housing and meshing with the bevel gear t drive the same, a pinion housing separable from the bevel gear housing and supported on the top thereof, a pair of vertical shafts rotatably mounted in upper and lower bearings in the pinion housing and arranged to be connected at their upper ends to the respective mill rolls, one of the shafts of the said pair being located directly above the bevel gear shaft and having a downwardly projecting lower end portion of non-circular cross section, intermeshing mill pinions mounted on the said pair of shafts between the bearings, the bevel gear shaft being of hollow construction, and a vertical spindle mounted within the bevel gear shaft and having a driving connection at its lower end with the lower end of the bevel gear shaft, the spindle having an upwardly open socket of non-circular cross section in its upper end in telescopic engagement with the said downwardly extending portion to drive the same.

'7. A driving mechanism for the two rolls of a vertical rolling mill comprising a bevel gear hous ing, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in upper and lower bearings in the housing, a bevel gear on the shaft between the bearings, a bevel pinion mounted within the housing and meshing with the bevel gear to drive the same, a pinion housing separable from the bevel gear housing and supported on the top thereof, a pair of vertical shafts rotatably mounted in upper and lower bearings in the pinion housing and arranged to be connected at their upper ends to the respective mill rolls, one of the shafts of the said pair being located directly above the bevel gear shaft and having a downwardly projecting lower end portion of non-circular cross section, intermeshing mill pinions mounted on the said pair of shafts between the bearings, the bevel gear shaft being of hollow construction, and a vertical spindle mounted within the bevel gear shaft and having a driving connection at its lower end with the lower end of the bevel gear shaft, the spindle having an upwardly open socket in its upper end to receive the said downwardly projecting portion with a slight degree of looseness, the socket being of a similar non-circular cross section to provide a vertically slidable telescopic driving connection with the said downwardly projecting portion.

JOHN W. SI-IEPERDSON. JOSEPH M. OMALLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,880,468 Nye Oct. 4, 1932 2,083,100 Sheperdson et al. June 8, 1937 2,124,677 Talbot July 26, 1938 2183.388 Biggert Dec. 12, 1939 

